Detonator for an explosively operated connector

ABSTRACT

In a connector device for splicing or providing terminal anchoring means for a large diameter electrical cable, the connector including a shell, a firing chamber and, upon firing an explosive charge with a detonator device, securely engages the cable inserted into the connector, the novel combination residing in a detonator threadably secured internally of the connector and provided with a negative electrode and a positive electrode connected together through an insulator cap having an interior transmission stem, with a spring in contact with an explosive charge within the connector additionally contacting both the positive and the negative electrodes of the detonator, the detonator further including a firing cap and a plastic plug carrying a contact rivet engaged with the stem, together with a nichrome wire engaging the spring and a primer retained in a primer holder covered by a thin firing membrane.

Werner [541 DETONATOR FOR AN EXPLOSIVELY OPERATED CONNECTOR [75] Inventor: Walter Myers Werner, Downingtown, Pa.

[73] Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 104,898

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 18,152, March 10,

1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. ..102/28 R [51] ..F42b 3/14 [58] Field of Search ..102/28, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,251,216 5/1966 Broske ..102/28 X 3,308,758 3/1967 Stadler et al. ..102/28 3,490,332 1/1970 Damm l02/46 X Primary Examiner--Verlin R. Pendegrass AttorneyWilliam J. Keating, Ronald D. Grefe, Gerald K. Kita, Frederick W. Raring, Jay L. Seitchik and John P. Vandenburg [5 7] ABSTRAlIIT In a connector device for splicing or providing ter 7 minal anchoring means for a large diameter electrical cable, the connector including a shell, a firing chamber and, upon firing an explosive charge with a detonator device, securely engages the cable inserted into the connector, the novel combination residing in a detonator threadably secured internally of the connector and provided with a negative electrode and a positive electrode connected together through an insulator cap having an interior transmission stem, with a spring in contact with an explosive charge within the connector additionally contacting both the positive and the negative electrodes of the detonator, the detonator further including a firing cap and a plastic plug carrying a contact rivet engaged with the stem, together with a nichrome wire engaging the spring and a primer'retained in a primer holder covered by a thin firing membrane. 1

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures DETONATOR FOR AN EXPLOSIVELY OPERATED CONNECTOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a continuation-in-part of US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 18,152, filed Mar. 10, 1970 and now abandoned.

The present invention relates generally to a detonator employed with an internally fired electrical connector, such as the connector described and claimed in the above related application.

An object of the present invention is to provide a detonator which may be threadably inserted with an internally fired explosive electrical connector, which detonator includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode connected together by a heater element, with a primer substance triggered upon heating of the NICHROME wire in order to set off an explosive charge within the electrical connector.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a specific detonator structure which may be inserted into an explosively operated electrical connector containing an explosive charge, the detonator being characterized by a negative terminal and a positive terminal connected together by a heating element secured to a contact rivet engaging one of the electrodes, together with a primer substance contained within a primer holder covered by thin firing membrane.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detonator which may be secured internally of an explosive electrical connector containing an internal explosive charge, the detonator structure including a positive electrical terminal and an electrical negative terminal connected together by a heating element, a primer substance retained by a thin firing membrane within the detonator with a coil spring engaging the heater wire, one of the terminals and the explosive charge of the connector.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon perusal of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary section of an electrical connector containing an explosive charge and having associated therewith a removable detonator plug; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the connector illustrated in FIG. 1, and further illustrating the detonator according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention together with a coil spring engaging the explosive charge and the detonator.

- With more particular reference to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a fragmented portion of an electrical connector 11, being provided with a cylindrical center section 12 encircling a firing barrel 15 which is of strong steel or aluminum having a firing chamber 16 in which an explosive charge 17 may be located. Such a connector may be of any type, for example, one type being disclosed in the above identified application, Ser. No. I8,152, filed Mar. 10, 1970. The connector 11 may also be provided with a threaded detonator plug opening 36 and closed with a threaded bolt or insert or detonator plug 34 when the container is stored or shipped.

With more particular reference to FIG. 2 of the drawing, there will be described in detail a specific embodiment of a detonator according to the present invention which may be utilized in conjunction with the exemplary electrical connector 11 shown in FIG. 1. The specific detonator structure comprising the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 and includes a detonator housing having a negative electrode 91 and a positive electrode 92. The negative electrode 91 is led through an insulator cap 94 to an interior transmission stem 95, which interior stem is insulated from the other housing 90 by means of an insulator 96. The insulator 96 terminates in a frustoconical portion of the transmission stem 95. The detonator holds a firing cap 99 insulated from the positive electrode 92 by means of a plastic plug 97 which carries a contact rivet 100 engaging the transmission stem 95. The contact rivet 100 in turn is in contact with the firing cap as well as a length of NICHROME wire 102, a portion of which protrudes between the metallic firing cap holder 99 and the plastic plug 97. A primer substance 104 is held in a primer holder 106 and is insulated from outside interference by a thin firing membrane 105.

In operation, the detonator plug 34 is removed from the shell 11. A spring 37 is first screwed into the opening 36 and is engaged with the explosive charge 17, as shown in FIG. 2. The detonator 90 is inserted into the outer housing, the threads of which secure sufficiently strongly the detonator 90 and confine the charge 17 in the firing chamber 16. The first contact spiral 107 of the spring is engaged with the positive portion of the detonator, and the second spiral 1 09 of the spring is engaged with the negative electrode 91 of the detonator 90. The Nichrome wire 102 protrudes between the metallic firing cap holder 99 and the plastic plug 97 to engage the first contact spiral 107 of the spring 103.

The firing is effected by a triggering device disclosed in Ser. No. [8,152, filed Mar. 10, I970. This triggering device, when contact is made between the negative and the positive terminals 91 and 92, beats the NICHROME wire 102 and triggers the detonating primer of primer substance 104 which in turn sets off the explosive charge 17.

Thus a preferred embodiment of the detonator according to the present invention has been specifically described and disclosed in detail. However, other embodiments and modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A detonator which comprises,

a. a shell member;

b. insulation in said shell member;

-c. an electrically conductive stem positioned in said shell member, said stern insulated from said shell member by said insulation; a plug positioned in said shell member adjacent said stem, saidplug having therein a heater wire with a portion thereof protruding from said plug; e. a contact electrically connecting said stem to said heater wire; I". a cap positioned in said plug, said cap containing detonator primer substance therein and arelative thin membrane immediately adjacent thereto;

g. contact means electrically connecting said shell 2. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said shell member includes a frustoconical section, insulation in said frustoconical section, and said stem is seated in said frustoconical section. 

1. A detonator which comprises, a. a shell member; b. insulation in said shell member; c. an electrically conductive stem positioned in said shell member, said stem insulated from said shell member by said insulation; d. a plug positioned in said shell member adjacent said stem, said plug having therein a heater wire with a portion thereof protruding from said plug; e. a contact electrically connecting said stem to said heater wire; f. a cap positioned in said plug, said cap containing detonator primer substance therein and a relative thin membrane immediately adjacent thereto; g. contact means electrically connecting said shell member anD said wire, said contact means including a coil spring, at least a first coil of said spring removably engaging said shell and said heater wire and the remainder of said spring extending from said cap and engages thereagainst.
 2. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said shell member includes a frustoconical section, insulation in said frustoconical section, and said stem is seated in said frustoconical section. 